Cologne du 68 by Guerlain

There was recently a thread about it:

http://community.basenotes.net/showthread.php?t=202030

yes Mike I did last summer when I was in Paris & it is exclusive to the Guerlain botique, it reminds me of L'Instant but with a niche edge & quality ... in more refined & luxurious way ' the same quality of Boi d'Argent'.. well i said the quality not the smell.. where you can feel the natural light ingredints ..
it is a modern cologne .. fresh, sparkling & comforting for the hot summery day..& i adore it.

but the sad part is that it has no spray, so you have to buy a 100 Euro for an empty spray flacon 'the old lady style with a pump' beside the 200 Euro for the cologne.

I have a sample of it, which I got with my SdV purchase. In fact, this post made me run upstairs and now my forarm is drenched with it.
It's very light, henche the name "cologne". It also has "cologne' lasting power.
After a while it gets a little sweetish. I can't say it's slides more to the masculine side or more to the feminine side.It's truly unisex.
I know it has flowers in it, but it never becomes too flowery, if you know what I mean. Very light and easy to wear.

For a reference, I'd say this reminds me very much of a slightly more complex Annick Goutals Eau du Sud, or Les Nuits d'Hadrien

Hope this helps a bit.

68's most surprising aspect is its powderiness. Very unusual for a classic "Eau de Cologne" which are mostly fresh and citrus-based. After the hesperidic top notes the woody and spicy notes take over, and the pronounced musky basenotes stay for hours. Truly unique, and very distinctive. The name "68" refers - according to Guerlain - to 68 ingredients, but for sure it is also a reference to the house's address (68 Champs-Elysees). The huge bottle looks gorgeous. Given it's a 480 ml size, an omnibus order and bottle split would be a good idea indeed.

Named because of the number of ingredients? Named for the address of the flagship store? What a bummer. I was expecting it would be named for the riots of '68--continuons le combat!--that drove De Gaulle to Germany for a while. One of those amazing social upheavels that once again almost brought a commune to Paris.

I'd buy a scent dedicated to that.
--Chris

from The Perfumed Court
$5.00 for the 2.5ml spray which is all I'll need to satisfy my curiosity.
4711 is my litre bottle of choice for cologne
is that a foil wrapper around the blue bottle? it doesn't surprise me to see large bottles of cologne in splash only, since that's the way they were originally used.

A new addition to the Guerlain collection, this fragrance is named after the Champs Elysees flagship store street number. This is not a remake of No. 68 which was created in 2002 nor is it a remake of Winter Delice. This is a brand new citrus aromatic creation and is made from 68 ingredients including bergamot, green mandarin, lemon, clementine, orange peel, blood orange, sweet lime, grapefruit, basil, fennel, star anise, lavender, bay leaf, cypres, elemi, thyme, myrthe, bigarade, mandarin petit grain, lemon petit grain, pear, violet greens, lierre, gentiane, seve, blackcurrant, freesia, lily of the valley, hazel leaf, cyclamen, cardamom, coriander, black pepper, pink berry, nutmeg, ginger, jasmine, frangipane, magnolia blossom, orange blossom, peony, rose, carnation, ylang-ylang, lychee, fig, blackberry, immortelle, lentisque, opoponax, amber, benzoin, vanilla, cistus, heliotrope, iris, tonka beans, sage, musk, patchouli, agarwood, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, vegetable musk, praline, myrrhe and lychen. Cologne du 68 is an eau de cologne, edc.

Powder just killed it for me. I'll stick with my CdG Citrico and AdP.

TNMA

A very fine year! A small duckfinder was born and the new bourgoisie threw small pieces of bread over the barricades into the pond for him to eat while they intoned the mantra "let him eat cake".
Quack! Gonna be 40 soon.

I think that may be an unspoken allusion...

BTW, I don't detect a prominent powdery note in it, so mikeperez, you might want to give it a try anyway.

Cd68 is mesmerizing and intoxicating. It's fresh, sweet, woody, intense, floral, fruity, etc. It is the be-all, end-all of all frags. Perhaps the most complex scent ever created and it shines. Why Guerlain keeps this light under a bushel in Paris is beyond me? At least Dior & Hermes market & distribute their limited editions. One day I will find a bottle. Until then I wait with baited nose...

Which cologne du 68 are we talking about here? The 2002 version or the new version? The noses I believe are different for the two versions. I had a small sample of what version I dont know but I wasn't blown away by it or anything...it just smelled like a well made typical EDC with a deeper floral component than usual but the spices didn't come out a lot on my skin. Perhaps there was also some juicy orange blossom in the composition? Maybe I need to try a bigger sample and figure out which Cd68 I was experimenting with.

Chris, maybe you should try this one: http://www.ausliebezumduft.de/kosmet...oducts_id=1858

there is now a bottle with a spray of this gorgeous Cologne (i think it's a 150 ml or 200 ml bottle i don't remember exactly )
it's around 140 euros

this is so promising ,.. thanks for the news Germanomio , this is much better than spending 300 Euros, I'll be in Paris next May & I must get it.

Cologne du 68 is sold State-side, now. It is available in the Bergdorf Goodman Guerlain Boutique in NYC and in Neiman Marcus in San Francisco,

68 is very complex and certainly worth a try. I wear it often and its always different every time. The immortelle note is particularly striking. It reminds me a lot of the drydown to Antidote.

It is not powdery on me at all.

The bottle is actually much more elegant in person, a gorgeous wood cap with a silver Guerlain double-G logo engraved into the top. It comes with a sprayer attachment.

The new 68 is not a remake of the old 68, which was actually very similar to Guet-Apens/Attrape-Couer. Lasting power on Cologne du 68 is average - while it is a cologne, it performs like and EDT on my skin. Of course, I always put on a lot of scent.

Right you are, Gerald. That certainly would be fun. I also want to try their Marquis de Sade scent. I've already got Jules Verne one, which is decent but just fair.

May the revolutions all be scented! Onward!

Mike -

You may want to try the Guerlain Boutique in EPCOT Center. They seem to be getting more and more exclusives these days. 68 is probably one of them. NYC has TONS of bottles of 68, it seems they're really pushing it amongst the luxury crowds.

Mike, I've just came from Paris couple of weeks ago & I've purchased Cologne du 68 from Guerlain flagship store at Av.Champs Elysees ..
I've used it yesterday for work .. turning heads & complements has never stopped .. I had a great wining day..
it is a luminous cologne , light in a bottle, Eclat absolute,...
so fresh, crisp & amazingly radiant .. pink grapefruit give it a contemporary delicious variation
it is a classical cologne with a modern glowing twist
.. lasting power is amazing with a charming trail that stays all day long, & it comes now with a spray.. go for it Mike

I tried it yesterday at Nieman Marcus in San Francisco.
Very complex.
Not powdery.

I also detest powdery drydowns.

Got samples of "Jicky" and "L'Ame du Hero" (remake of Coriolan?)

Wearing Eau du Guerlain right now. Great for summer.

I just tried this at Neimans this past week. It was a very nice - slightly spicy. But I don't feel it is worth the price.

Cologne du 68 is, indeed, a wonderful cologne and I would have also owned a bottle of this if it wasn't for the silly price...

Landed a bottle of cologne 68 and Guerlain homme a few days ago and wow what a difference in quality.

Spraying from a bottle really shows how mediocre Guerlain homme is .. the quality of ingredients is questionable, the mojito mix barely perceptible, and there is an ozonic-herbal accord so common in many generic fragrances which permeates this fragrance rendering it utterly forgettable. I repackaged it and gifted it to my 17 year old cousin who will probably enjoy the "chick magnet" bottle and the cheesy "for the animal in you" commercials for this guerlain sell out more. Embarrassing stuff.

Cologne 68 on the other hand is probably the best thing Guerlain has done in years. Its light and EDC-like for sure, but the quality of ingredients and composition hammer the stuffing out of 'homme. Opening with a tart citrus burst, the spicy freshness of cardamom and ginger meld perfectly with the woody facets of the main accord. Moments later, a floral-powdery note emerges which softens the citrus-spicy notes. You may not like citrus, you may not like spicy woods, you may not like powdery notes, but each of these facets are never overwhelming in 68 but rather take it through subtle modern transformations.

Dare I say it cologne 68 is a a better mens "oriental" than Habit Rouge EDC.

I had high hopes for 68, but when I tried it today, I was a bit disappointed. It was very floral, not very "cologne"-like, and nothing really memorable. It's great for what it is...a quiet, muted EDC, but for something I'd consider best for work and everyday situations, I'd want something a bit more reasonably priced. The comparisons with L'Instant (femme) are definitely noticeable. Good...but not great.

I never thought that Cd68 would actually make its way for distribution outside of the Guerlain flagship store in Paris because, well, my nose says this is an absolutely, ABSOLUTELY beautiful scent that reeks elegantly of niche. It smells like it should be a boutique exclusive, and IMO a complex formulation that smells so effortless, done only conceivably by a true master nose. I've never been impressed like this in a long time!

The mass-market composition of Guerlain Homme pales IMO compared to this holy water! For the most part Cd68 smells mostly oriental, but it has everything-- fresh-spicy-woody-green-powdery (only slightly IMO, mikeperez23!)-warm-mossy-rich-transparent. This is pure talent! No one note fights for attention over the other. It's this perfectly harmonious chain of notes that only can come from a House that knows its business. You cannot fake something like this!

If they ever make an EdT or EdP version of this, I'm buying every bottle off the shelf! HA! or at least I'll try to obtain several to keep on hand for a lifetime! It does have good sillage on the first half hour, but then goes close to the skin for another 2 hours or so. I think I got 3 hours when I tested it on skin yesterday.

Funny, there seems to be variations on bottle sizes and prices--my 100ml bottle was for $100. Even if it was 50ml for a $100 I still wouldv'e bought it without blinking. To me, it's still a bargain for a bottle of one of Guerlain's greatest artistry.

Was there ever news that Cd68 would be on worldwide distribution? Is there hope of seeing Habit Rouge EdP on our shores? Heh, I don't think so...L'Instant EdP didn't. Besides Cd68 and Guerlain Homme, was there a "quiet" release that I'm not aware about for Guerlain?

I have a sample on the way... I'm looking forward to checking this out.

Wow, that was a brilliant review. Thanks zztopp. I know there are many fans of Guerlain Homme out there but, when compared to Cologne 68, it really is a very lame scent.


Ditto.


Hey, you'll have to join the queue!


$100?! Hey, tell me more...

My first round of Guerlain decants from TPC arrived today (they ship from different sources), but alas no 68. I did get Mouchoir de Mounsieur, Vetiver Pour Elle, Iris Ganache and Bois D'Armenie which should keep me busy.

BTW, the TPC offers a special price on 68 - I think it's $5 for 2.5ml

She also did Cartier Roadster, another favorite for me -- DAMN! She's talented! I think she's more talented than Olivia Giacobetti. Oops, I think I just heard thunder rumbling. HA!

For those near a Neiman's they carry it there - 100ml for $100. They also offer (sometimes) a 300ml for $200.

Not if I beat you to the shelf ...

I bought my 100 ml bottle of Cologne du 68 a little over a month ago and right now ... it's less than half full. It seems every time I wear it I get better and better longevity out of it ... but it's still no Pi in that department. I think it has just the perfect sillage for what it is so I'm not sure I would want an EDP that might be stronger ... but I do wish the "freshness" of it would last a bit longer. I actually give myself a few spritzes of this before going to the gym and find it perfect for that situation also. I still can't believe it's marketed as a woman's fragrance. Definitely my best purchase of the year ... though not the cheapest by a longshot!

Wow! Thanks for letting me know. From what I can remember, the Paris store was charging somewhere between $160 to $200 for a 100ml bottle. I'll have to double-check in December.

Add my name to the 68 fan club , I picked up a bottle this morning

It wasnt a planned purchase but I was surprised to see it on the counter at House of Fraser , tried a spray on the back of my hand and for the very few seconds was surprisingly underwhelmed after that it was like POW !!!! Its not strong like many other Guerlain fragrances but very deep , complex and rich . It lasts well for a cologne my first spray was a good 6 hours ago and I can smell it still , quite powdery and soft but in a nice way .

Quite flowery , well very flowery but there again Im no expert when it comes down to it , I just know what I love and dislike . Definatly could smell vanilla and a hint of anniseed .

The bottle lid is a nice detail , wood ( ish ) with a Guerlain monogram engraved ingot in the center .

My SOTY so far ....

P.S Sorry its a bit of a crap review , just my impressions thats all

I received my sample last week, and my head-cold finally lifted, allowing me to actually smell again.

What a great fragrance! 68 is the perfect combo of woody, sweet, and citrus. I regret that only have a small sample, but it looks like I've arranged to buy a bottle from a great BNer, so I may be laying it on someday soon.

I got it a few days ago. I was very surprised about this remarkable mixture and - as so often when I smell a new Guerlain - I thought it wouldn't be my biggest hit. Slowly, though, I'm getting into its strange composition of grapefruit top, a strange mix of flowers, praline heart and the mossy-bitter streak running through it all. This is what I wrote about it so far:

The charming Cologne du 68 was launched in 2006 to celebrate the reopening of the Guerlain House the year before, and it's simply named after the address on Champs-Elysées where the house is located. The number was also an inspiration for its perfumer Sophie Labbé who aimed at using sixty-eight different notes in the final composition. This could sound like a confused, incalculable mess, but is far from: The scent manages to move from stage to stage in a remarkably clear structure, playing on the old-fashioned fougère cologne theme but twisted around an unusual, modern and bright gourmand core. It starts out classically with citrus notes (gentle, slightly bitter ones like blood orange and grapefruit) and soapy lavender, then turns to warm spices (cardamom, coriander, pepper), goes through cooling aromatic herbs (basil, thyme, myrtle) and flowers (creamy ylang-ylang, almond-sweet heliotrope and the wonderfully calm everlasting flower, among several), to finally land on a surprising and delicious praline accord. This whole scheme is given depth by a bitter-green mossy streak of woody resins (lichen, labdanum, sap note, myrrh) running all along. Originally sold in a solid 490 ml bottle ripped of any decoration except for an elegantly designed wooden cap.

Okay, I'm going to buy a bottle later this week...

I have a bottle on the way... it's really good stuff. I like Mr.G's description of 68's different phases. I can't be so articulate, but I did notice that it has many facets and many stages of development. It does this while also being easy to wear, just like any other cologne.

I'm not sure if anyone else said this, but I saw it on Neiman's website.

I thought it was Mathilde Laurent who composed 68?

From what's been said here, it sounds a bit like Rouge Royal. Anyone try both?

Can`t wait to test it!
Cologne Du 68 arrives in our local perfume shop this weekend at the price of $ 110/Eur 87,5 (with my discount card) and it goes only in the size of 100ml natural spray.

According to various internet sources plus Guerlain's PR chief Isabelle Rousseau, it's Sophie Labbé. I saw what she made before, not ... reassuring. But this one is really nice. Its main achievement is its ability to shift focus several times during a period of about 4-5 hours, from soapy lavender, to spices, to creamy flowers to gourmand to woody resins. I don't get bored with it the same way I do with L'Instant pour Homme (oh why can't I just love that one, I want to love L'Instant!). Turin calls 68 "difficult cologne" and maybe he refers to the rather "musty", soapy-resinous fougère-smell that this one gives off during the first 2 hours. But if you find that part an interesting, masculine touch, I think you'll love it!

I just tried this on from the tester at the Guerlain counter in House of Fraser.
I love it. It's on the Xmas list!

I'm giving this my first full wear - it's awesome. Mr.G's description of its phases is very apt. One moment it's 'green', then you get citrus, then woody, then spicy, all the while with a touch of musty gourmand and that classic Guerlain vanilla base. However, even while there is a lot going on, it's very easy to wear and for a complex fragrance it is very, very wearable and unobtrusive as some complex frags can get.

My only complaint is I wish it has a little more oooph, sillage-wise. It stays close to the skin, regardless of how much you apply. Regardless it lasts a long time - 5-6 hours.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it on the shelves downtown today. I'm not sure if I "got it" with my first wrist wearing - not what I was expecting. I know exactly where I can go to get a new spritz - and I have a feeling its going to grow on me. The 100 ml was going for about $120.

Wow, with such great reviews I suppose Cd68 is worth a try before I pull the trigger on Homme! Does anybody know if this Cologne is sold online so that we Canadians can purchase it? I know the TPC sells decants but they don't ship to Canada and a full 100ml/$100 bottle is a better investment anyway...

There are no sellers on eBay or shopping bots like findit.com other than Nieman Marcus any Bergdorf Goodman neither of which ship to Canada.

I would check with the Guerlain Botiques in Canada - I believe there is one in Toronto and Montreal. You could also try Holt Renfrew they carry Guerlain in Toronto at least.

The 180th anniversary 100 ml bottle is really ridiculously expensive - in Copenhagen department stores it goes for 100 Euros! Holy shit, Guerlain, keep those prices down now!

Mr Guerlain, are we talking Illum or Magasin here?

It's £62 here. With the current exchange rate, 100 is roughly £80!!

I saw it at Magasin, didn't check Illum, but normally they run the same prices.

Yeah, it's sick isn't it? I'm glad a got the huge bottle for a third of that ml price...